A small fishing island just north of Maafushi with a handful of guesthouses, a quiet bikini beach and reefs close to shore: the calm alternative to its busy neighbour, twenty minutes from the airport by speedboat or about an hour from Malé on the public ferry (not Fridays). No airport, no alcohol; dress modestly in the village.
Highlights
- Snorkel off the beach
- Quiet bikini beach
- Sandbank picnic
- Walk round the village in half an hour
- Hop to Maafushi for excursions
Things to do
- Snorkel the house reefMorning · 2h
- Sandbank picnic boat tripMorning · 4h
- Sunset walk round the islandEvening · 1h
- Afternoon on the bikini beach, with reef sharks in the shallowsAfternoon · 2h 30m
- Kayak or paddleboard on the lagoonAfternoon · 1h 30m
- Half-day snorkel trip to the turtle reefs of South Malé AtollMorning · 3h 30m
- Glowing plankton on the shore after dark (some nights)Evening · 1h
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: December – April
Worth knowing
South-West Monsoon: Rough Seas, Boats Cancelled
From May to October the south-west monsoon brings squalls, heavy showers and rough seas, worst from June to August. Public ferries and shared speedboats are delayed or cancelled on bad days, crossings to the outer atolls get very bumpy, and sandbank and snorkel trips are called off. There are still plenty of sunny days and prices are lower. Keep a spare night in Hulhumalé before your flight home.
Heads up
Ramadan on the Local Islands
Ramadan runs from about 8 February to 9 March 2027. On local islands and in Malé cafes close by day (your guesthouse still serves you), shops open short hours, and ferry and speedboat times change. Don't eat, drink or smoke in public in daylight. Resorts carry on as normal.
Heads up
No Public Ferries on Fridays
The MTCC public ferries don't run on Fridays on most routes, and Friday midday is prayer time when shops close. Shared speedboats mostly still run, on a Friday timetable.
- Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr (Kuda Eid) — The month of fasting. On local islands and in Malé most cafes close from dawn to sunset (guesthouses still feed their guests), shops keep shorter hours, and ferry and speedboat times change. Don't eat, drink or smoke in public in daylight. Eid at the end is a three-day holiday of family feasts; boats and flights from Malé fill up. Resorts are unaffected.
- Eid al-Adha (Bodu Eid) — The "big Eid", about seventy days after Ramadan ends (mid-May in 2027): a long public holiday when Maldivians travel home to their islands, so public ferries and shared speedboats fill and some guesthouse excursions pause. Book boats early.
Part of a longer route
Gulhi is a stop on a curated circuit through the Maldives.